Tennis: Pavlyuchenkova triumphs in Monterrey

Monterrey (Mexico), April 8 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Russia's Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova held firm against tough resistance from Angelique Kerber to win the Monterrey Open for the third time.

Pavlyuchenkova has never lost in Monterrey, winning the title every time she has entered the tournament and continued that record in a 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 win over Germany's Kerber Sunday.

"It's amazing. I still can't believe it, really," she was quoted as saying on the WTA website.

"After my first match this week I said it would be a dream come true to win it three times in a row, and I did, so the dream really did come true."

Kerber fought till the end in the final, winning four games in a row to come back from 5-0 down in the decider, but conceded she had lost to the better player on the day.

"Anastasia was playing very well today," the German said. "She was just hitting the ball better at the most important moments."

Monterrey accounts for three of Pavlyuchenkova's four career WTA title wins, the other coming in Istanbul in 2010. Following the win, she rises six places to 20th in the world rankings, while Kerber remains sixth in an unchanged top ten.

In the doubles final, top seeds Timea Babos and Kimiko Date-Krumm won 6-1, 6-4 against Eva Birnerova and Tamarine Tamasugarn, seeded third.

The Monterrey Open is a hard-court WTA International tournament with a $235,000 prize fund.